Sunday night on CBS, the 72nd Annual Tony Awards were presented at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Hosted by Josh Groban and Sarah Bareilles, there were several notable moments in the show.

The evening’s big winner took home 10 Tonys, and that was the Best Musical recipient, The Band’s Visit. Of the nominees in the category, The Band’s Visit was the critical darling with its social and political message. The musical is based on a 2007 Israeli film of the same name. It centers on members of an Egyptian police orchestra booked to play a concert at the Israeli city of Petah Tikvah, who mistakenly wind up in the wrong town. Over the next few hours, the townspeople and the musicians learn about each other and themselves.

Photo: Ahron R. Foster.

Tony Shalhoub took home Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his work in The Band’s Visit. In his acceptance speech, he spoke to immigrants building a life in the United States: “I want to connect this moment to a moment that occurred nearly a century ago in 1920 when my father arrived on a boat from Lebanon and first set foot here on Ellis Island. He was then just a boy of 8. Disembarked on Ellis Island just a few short miles from this very spot. So tonight I celebrate him and all of those whose family journeyed before him and with him and after him.”

The most talked about moment that will be remembered, when all is said and done, was Robert De Niro coming to the stage to introduce a performance by Bruce Springsteen. When De Niro got to the mic, he shocked all and said: “First, I wanna say, ‘f**k Trump,'” He then added: “It’s no longer ‘Down with Trump,’ it’s ‘f**k Trump.'” U.S. viewers at home heard dead silence, though in other regions the f-bombs reportedly weren’t censored. The expletives sparked a huge reaction from the audience, with many of the celebrities standing up.

Courtesy/CBS

However, the acceptance speech of the night belonged to Andrew Garfield, who took home the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Play for his turn as Prior Walter in the revival of Angels In America.

Garfield expressed: “At a moment in time, where maybe the most important thing we remember right now is the sanctity of the human spirit, it is the profound privilege of my life to play Prior Walter in Angels in America, because he represents the purest spirit of humanity and especially that of the LGBTQ community. It is a spirit that says ‘no’ to oppression, it is a spirit that says ‘no’ to bigotry, ‘no’ to shame, ‘no’ to exclusion. It is a spirit that says we are all made perfectly and we all belong. So, I dedicate this award to the countless LGBTQ people who have fought and died to protect that spirit, to protect that message, for the right to live and love as we are created to.”

Then the actor closed his acceptance speech with this message based off the recent Supreme Court ruling where a gay couple was denied a custom wedding cake to be made for their nuptials, because of the religious beliefs of a Colorado baker. The court ruled to absolve the baker of discrimination. Garfield shared: “We are all sacred and we all belong, so let’s just bake a cake for everyone who wants a cake to be baked. Thank you so much”

Courtesy/CBS

In a surprise appearance at the Tony Awards, 16 students from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School drama department took to the stage. What happened next was the most touching moment of the evening. With the iconic melody of “Seasons of Love” beginning to play, a chorus of voices began their rendition of the hit song from Rent. The performance brought the audience to its feet. Almost four month ago, the high school located in Parkland, Florida was the scene of a mass shooting leaving 17 dead and 17 injured.

So, what was your favorite highlight of the 72nd Annual Tony Awards? Comment below. In case you missed it, watch: Robert De Niro’s f-bombs, Andrew Garfield’s acceptance speech, and the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school’s performance.

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Jimh

I dont care what he thinks of Trump…his disrespect with his dirty mouth is unacceptable…no class in Hollywood anymore…stars no longer shine over Hollywierd!!!…there is a time and a place for political views and not something families are wastching!!!!

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June 11, 2018 10:53 am

Shay

Just another once-venerable event that I have crossed off my must-viewing list….so glad I did!!! This year’s show sounded particularly nasty….no sense of what was appropriate for the actual occasion, simply more one-sided, filthy-mouthed, political drivel more befitting a sewer than a Broadway venue.

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June 12, 2018 1:03 am

Timmm

From a talented actor who made so many great movies, what will kids know him from now, a grumpy old man who drops the F bomb at a major event that honored the best in theater and paid tribute to the kids at Parkland. Yeah, those scum bag actors applauded those brilliant kids but the same losers stood up for Grandpa De Niro! My list gets longer and longer of actors, musicians and sports stars!

PS: Any positive point that was expressed by Andrew Garfield and his cake comment was and will be buried because of De Niro stealing the moment for his own agenda!

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June 11, 2018 1:44 pm

Mark

Micheal, thank you for the recap of the Tony Awards on your site. It’s nice to see you recognize the New York theatre community. Especially since so many stage actors used to appear on our daytime dramas. Just some that come to mind: Eileen Fulton, ATWT, was in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf”. The same production also starred Shepperd Strudwick, the second Victor Lord On OLTL. When I was a teenager I saw the original production of “A Little Night Music” with Pat Elliot, Renee OLTL and Victoria Mallory, Y&R. So many of these fine actors would work on the soaps during the day and were on the live stage in the evenings. The golden age of daytime drama!

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June 11, 2018 2:00 pm

Patrick

I soooo – wanted – David Morse to WIN ” best featured actor in a play ” @ THE ICEMAN COMETH. he lost out to Nathan Lane. does any one remember David MORse in “The Green Mile”

AT HIS BESTEST

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June 11, 2018 6:37 pm

nancy dillingham

Free speech (as of now!) is still alive (but not so “well”) apparently!

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June 12, 2018 12:46 pm

Soaphound

So happy the brilliant Glenda Jackson won her first Tony. She was a major force in 1970s cinema, winning two Best Actress Oscars in 1970 and 1973. I always hated that she’s been largely forgotten since joining British politics in the 80s. But she’s back with a vengeance. Maybe this win will remind fans to watch her classic performances in WOMEN IN LOVE, A TOUCH OF CLASS, HOUSE CALLS, STEVIE, and MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, among others.

Marci Miller Final DAYS Episode Airs Today As She Shares Heartfelt Goodbye: “Thanks For The Sweet Ride, Abby”

November 19, 2018

In two years time, Marci Miller became a household name in the daytime arena as one of the brightest talents to grace the soap opera genre in a very long time.

Now today on Monday November 19th, viewers of Days of our Lives are watching her final episode as she wraps up her run as Abigail Deveraux on the NBC soap opera.

And what a run it was! Earning her a Daytime Emmy nomination for Lead Actress this year, and a possible nomination next year, Miller was heralded for her gut-wrenching performances in the DID storyline (Dissociative Identity Disorder) where she played Abby’s alters, Dr. Laura and Gabby. Not to mention her complex love story with Chad DiMera (Billy Flynn).

Photo Credit: JPI Studios

On key episodes today, Miller’s Abby goes toe to toe with a vindictive Gabi (Camila Banus) who gloats how Abby ended up back in a sanitarium … thanks to her!

Miller made the decision to leave DAYS and pursue a career in feature film and primetime TV roles

In an Instagram post, Miller shared:”This is a picture of me 2 yrs ago, painting my nails (and a dear friend’s while I’m at it) for a screen test the next morning to play a woman named Abigail Deveraux Dimera on Days of Our Lives. Who would’ve thought?! This morning I sit in the same exact spot knowing that today, my last episode will air as this beloved character. I reflect, and am grateful. I am better for having been a part of it all. Knowing I’ve laid her in a pair of loving and capable hands does me good. Thanks for the sweet ride, Abby. My heart is full today. Xx #Days#Milly#Chabby”

So, send your well-wishes to Marci here as we give her a standing ovation for an incredible job well-done for her portrayal of Abby et al. Will you miss Marci? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.

Intriguing casting news out of Port Charles on Sunday. The ABC daytime drama series has tapped former Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star Janet Hubert to play the character of Yvonne,who is said to be a love interest for Mike (Max Gail) at the nursing home he is now in.

According to EW.com, Yvonne will end up having a connection to someone or someones on the canvas.

Hubert’s first episode is slated to air on December 7th. Sitcom fans remember Janet from “Fresh Prince’ in scenes with Will Smith in the series in the role of Vivian Banks.

GH is not Janet’s first soap, either. She appeared on One Life to Live as Evangeline Williamson’s (Renee Elise Goldsberry) and Layla Williamsom’s (Tika Sumpter) mother, Lisa. The actress also appeared on All My Children as Alice Dawson.

In another twist, Hubert will reunite with Vernee Watson (Stella)om GH. The two appeared together on “Fresh Prince”, where Watson played Will’s mother.

So does this mean that Yvonne and Stella are both going to be romantically interested in Mike Corbin?

What do you think of the casting news? Interested to see this next leg of Mike’s story as he declines from Alzheimer’s, but may find love? Comment below.

Soaps Lift Boycott Threat Of Daytime Emmys

November 17, 2018

In a key move to allow those performers in front of the camera and behind the scenes crew and creatives to be acknowledged for their accomplishments this calendar year, the four daytime dramas collectively have decided to lift their threatened boycott and participate in the upcoming 46th annual Daytime Emmy competition.

This comes after the four network soaps (Days of our Lives, General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The Young and the Restless) banded together after being unsatisfied with snafu’s coming out of the 45th annual Daytime Emmy Awards earlier this year in April, and a list of grievances and concerns they asked to be addressed by the organization that administers the Emmy contest.

Then, following an internal investigation by NATAS by the law firm of Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth of Washington, DC, the results which were released on November 8th, and being in receipt of their findings, the soaps decided to move forward while still having concerns they want addressed.

In a statement from the group, a spokesperson related to Deadline, who broke the story late Friday: “As a group, we are not in agreement with all of the conclusions that NATAS reached. However, in the spirit of working with NATAS and the TV Academy on improving the integrity of the Daytime Emmys, we have lifted our boycott. We look forward to meeting with NATAS to discuss their findings and our concerns in greater detail.”

On Saturday, someone close to the situation said to Michael Fairman TV: “Our participation doesn’t mean we accept their proposal moving forward, we still have major issues that we will be discussing with the Chair and President (of NATAS), but as a collective whole, we don’t want to penalize our actors for NATAS’ mis-management.”

The 46th Annual Daytime Emmy submissions began earlier this week on November 12th, with the Daytime Emmys slated to be handed out in early May of 2019.

So, are you glad that the network soaps have lifted their threatened boycott so that your favorite performers, whose performances you have loved over the last 11 months can be acknowledged for their talents and hard work? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.